Sweeping device



R. E. MUIRHE'ID SWEEPING DEVICE Jan. 11, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1950 INVEN TOR. RALPH E. MUIRHEID .n n 9!, In I H ATTORNEY Jan. 11, 1955 R. MUIRHEID SWEEPING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1950 INVENTOR.

' RALPH E. MUIRHEID Qua- 622M 4 ATTORNEY 1955 R. E. MUIRHEID 7 2,698,954

SWEEPING DEVICE I Filed Aug. 14, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 RALPH E. MUIRHEID u/uzb fi (EMMA ATTORNEY Jan. 11, 1955 R. E. MUIRHEID 2,698,954

SWEEPING DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ll A INVENTOR.

RALPH E. MUIRHEID BY 641ml ATTORNEY United States Patent SWEEPING DEVICE Ralph E. Muirheid, Akron, Ohio Application August 14, 1950, Serial No. 179,179

16 Claims. (Cl. 15-132) This invention relates to sweeping devices, and in particular relates to floor sweeping brushes provided with liquid-applying means as for laying dust or otherwise treating floor surfaces.

Heretofore, commercial type floor brushes, for example, have been provided with various devices for supplying a stream of liquid for various purposes. Use of means to supply a flow of dust laying or floor-treating liquid to the brush bristles has not been entirely satisfactory, because such flow could not be properly regulated. Liquid spraying units also were generally unsatisfactory because they were operable separately from the floor brush. Generally speaking there has been a tendency for operators to avoid the use of such separate spray devices because manual effort was necessary in addition to that required for the floor sweeping operations.

One object of the present invention is to provide a brush or like sweeping device with spray-treating means which is automatically controlled solely by normal manipulation of the brush for sweeping purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sweeping device of the character described, wherein the amount of spray is decreased after an initial blast thereof to avoid over-spraying.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved spray-treating means of the character described including improved means for easily mounting the same on the backing member or head of a brush or other sweeping device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray unit of the character described which may be reversibly mounted on the brush backing member, whereby maximum life of the brush bristles is attainable.

Other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following brief description and the accompanying drawings.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the brush, partly broken away and in section, illustrating an industrial type floorsweeping brush embodying the features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-section, on the same scale, taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial rear view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure l, and showing the cam mechanism in an initial inoperative position of the same.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view, on the same scale, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear view, corresponding to Figure 3, illustrating the cam mechanism just beyond a final position in which the spray nozzle valve has been closed and the parts of the device are returning to the initial positions thereof.

Figure 6 is a transverse cross-section, taken on the line 66 of Figure 3, illustrating the pivoted spring-pressed cam.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-section, taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Figure 3, and illustrating the relationship of the camming and valving mechanisms in the valve-closed position at the start of a brush stroke.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross-section, taken substantially on the line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross-section, taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Figure 7.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are perspective views illustrating initial, intermediate and final positions of the brush, during a forward sweeping stroke of the brush.

2,698,954 Patented Jan. 11, 1955 Referring particularly to Figuresl, 3, 4, 7 and 9, there is illustrated an industrial type floor brush, embodying the features of the invention, the numeral 15 designating a sweeping head from the underside of which extends a brush body 16 of tufted hair or other flexible material. Conforming to the rounded upper side of the head may be a transversely arcuate attaching plate 17 which is clamped thereto, as by means of spaced bolts 18, 18 extended at the underside of the head, through apertures at one edge of the attaching plate and threaded into nuts 19 suitably anchored at the opposite edge portion of said plate, the opposite edges of plate 17 being suitably extended below the bottom of the head for this purpose. Thus, the attaching plate 17 may be easily clamped to various brush heads 15 which are readily available on the market.

A nozzle-supporting and handle-mounting bracket 20 is reversibly attachable to the plate 17, so that the brush head may be reversed on occasion to gain full wear of the brush body, which tends to acquire a permanent arcuate set in one direction with continued use. To this end, the bracket 20 may comprise an arcuate plate, conforming to plate 17 and having an inturned edge portion 21 adapted to be hooked under either of said opposite edges of the mounting plate and to be secured in position by means of screws 22 received through apertures in bracket 20, at the side thereof opposite to said hooked engagement, and threaded in pre-located apertures at the corresponding side of bracket 20. This provides a quick means for fixing the bracket 20 to the attaching plate 17.

On the bracket 20, adjacent the forward edge of the brush head 15, may be laterally spaced lugs 23, 23 through which is extended a bolt or pivot pin 24 on which is pivoted a supporting member or attachment 25. A leaf spring 26 attached to the underside of attachment 25 extends rearwardly of the pivot pin 24 toward engagement with the bracket and yieldingly tends to swing the attachment 25 upwardly of the same. Opposite side plates 27, 27, secured to the bracket 20, by means of screws threaded into lugs 28, 28 on the bracket, have inturned flanges 29, 29, engageable by the pivoted attachment 25 to limit said upward swing of the latter (see Figures 1, 4, 7 and 9).

As best shown in Figure 7, an elongated spray nozzle 30 may be secured to the upper face of the pivoted att chment 25, as by means of a U-shaped clip 32 and a similarly shaped portion 33 of a housing 34 provided with out-turned flanges 35, 35 and 3636, respectively, apertured to receive screws 37 threaded into the pivoted plate 25 The nozzle 30 has a spray head 38 of known type re movably threaded at a free end thereof, to have an outlet orifice 39 presented forwardly of the brush head, in a laterally centered position with respect thereto. An annular pressure fluid supply chamber 40, defined between the nozzle 30 and the spray head 38 thereof, has at least one passage extending therefrom, through strainer means 40a, to a rounded inner end 42 of an inwardly presented cylindrical recess 43 in the valve head. said rounded end constituting a valve seat, and a spring-pressed valve stem 44 is suitably mounted in the nozzle to have a cylindrical portion 45 thereof reciprocable in the recess 43 and terminating in a rounded end normally spring-pressed into seating engagement with the seat 42. The manner of supplying pressurized liquid to the chamber 44) and opening and closing the valve 45 to spray the liquid from the outlet orifice 39 will be described in detail later.

A handle member 46 for the brush head 15 constitutes an elongated, hollow, cylindrical container of aluminum or other suitable material, and is secured to an angularly upward extension 47 of housing 34, partially conforming to the cylindrical lower end of the container, as by means of spaced U-shaped clips 48, 48 clamped on the container by means of bolts 49 received through apertured flanges 59 on the housing and cooperating apertured lugs 51 on the clips. The handle extends from the brush head to be at a convenient angle to the horizontal, approximating pacity within the handle for storage of pressurized liquid therein.

The upper end of the hollow handle 4-6 is shown internally threaded to receive a threaded reduced portion 52 of a closure plug 53, provided with a relatively large central opening 54 through which a treating liquid L may be supplied to a predetermined level in the handle. The opening 54 is threaded to receive a smaller plug 55 to a point of firm engagement with a suitable dirt strainer device 56 received between the inner end of the same and an annular shoulder 57 at the inner end of opening 54. A spring-pressed air valve 58, of known type, used on pneumatic tire inner tubes, is threaded in the outer end of the plug 55 to be in communication with a central opening 59 therethrough for passage of compressed air to the interior of the handle from a suitable source and supplied through known types of air hose nozzles. For keeping the air valve 58 clean, a portion of the large plug 53, exposed at the end of the handle, may have a cap 60 removably threaded thereon.

Liquid L in handle 46, such as water for laying dust, or certain chemical solutions for deodorizing or sanitizing purposes, is supplied to the nozzle 30, through a conduit 62 connected from the lower end of the handle to a passage 63 through the nozzle, to the annular chamber 40 at the head end thereof. Compressed air from the upper end of the handle, is supplied through the open end of a flexible metal conduit 64 presented closely adjacent the upper end of the handle, conduit 64 being extended from a plug 65 in the bottom wall of the handle (see Figures 2 and 7), the air then passing through a passage 66 in said wall, through a conduit 67 extending from said bottom wall to the passage 68 in the nozzle to the said chamber 40 at the forward end of the nozzle. Thus, opening the nozzle valve in a manner to be described, is effective to eject liquid and compressed air through the outlet orifice 39 in the form of a fine spray. The upper end of conduit 64 may be coiled as shown in Figure 1, to have the open end of the conduit presented inwardly, so that in filling the handle with liquid L, dirt or other foreign matter will not enter the conduit (see Figures 1 and 2).

For actuating the spring-pressed valve stem 44 to automatically open the nozzle valve with forward brushing strokes of the brush and to maintain the same closed during the reverse brushing strokes, an extension 69 of the stem 44, presented within an open space 70 in nozzle 30, is received through a yoke 71 at the upper end of a finger or trigger 72, opposite sides of the yoke being yieldingly held, by a flexible spring 73, in fulcrum engagement with an edge portion of a fulcrum plate 74 slidably removably mounted at the top of the nozzle. At the same time the spring pressure on the valve stem 44 engages opposite rollers 75, 75 on the stem extension 69 with opposite sides of the yoke 71 (see Figures 7 and 8). The lower end of the finger 72 extends rearwardly of the brush head and is reversely bent to present a free tip end 76 to ward a cam 77 pivoted at 78 to the rear portion of mounting bracket 20. The cam 77 is L-shaped, with the pivot pm 78 thereof received through an integral angularly extending lug 79 to be at one side of the cam, which is normally held by a spring 80 against suitable stop means 81 to have raised vertically spaced cam surfaces 82 and 83 111 alignment with a path of movement of said tip end 76 of finger 72, in a plane through the lateral center of the brush head 15. The arrangement is such that pivotal movement of the handle and nozzle attachment 25 toward the brush head 15, against the action of the spring means 26, is effective to move the finger downwardly into progressive engagement with the raised cam portions 82 and 83, which in turn is effective to fulcrum the finger to the left, as viewed in Figure 7, to operate the valve to fully open and partially closed positions, respectively. This feature is desirable so that a strong blast of spray will be ejected at the beginning of a forward brush stroke as shown in Figure 10, and then the spray will be gradually diminished toward the end of such stroke, as shown in Figure 11, to obviate overspraying. Figure 12 shows the spray cut-ofi near the end of a brush stroke. With pivotal movement of the brush head with respect to the handle and nozzle attachment, the finger 72 will be moved. to engage the bottom portion of the cam, and because there is no stop means against upward swing of the cant it will be pushed aside by the finger (see Figure until the cam is free to be moved back to the stop position thereof shown in Figure 3, by the spring 80.

In use of the improved floor brush described above, normal reverse or inward movement of the handle 46 by an operator of the brush, to position head 15 for the beginning of a forward brush stroke while the brush body 16 frictionally engages a floor surface, is automatically effective to swing the attachment 25 apart from bracket 20 on head 15, and thereby to position the free end of finger or trigger 72 above the cam 77, as in Figures 1, 3 and 7. The natural forward movement of the handle with forward brushing movement of head 15, in which the brush body 16 continues to be frictionally engaged with said floor surface, pivots the head relatively toward the attachment 25, thereby to move finger 72 downwardly into engagement with cam 77. Initially the finger rides onto raised cam portion 82, as illustrated in chain-dotted lines in Figure 7, to open the nozzle valve wide and thereby provide a strong blast of spray forwardly through nozzle outlet 39, substantially as shown in Figure 10. At approximately the middle of the forward brush stroke the finger 77 rides onto the second cam protuberance 83 to provide a spray of reduced flow, as shown in Figure ll. It is obvious, however, that the brush head may be stopped at any point in the stroke and the handle 30 manipulated in a manner to hold the nozzle open as long as necessary or desirable.

Conversely, with the back or return movement of the brush handle the frictional engagement of the brush body 16 with the floor surface is effective yieldingly to swing the head 15 apart from the attachment 25, about pivot 24, thereby to engage the bottom edge 84 of cam 77 and swing the cam to one side, allowing the finger 72 to pass the cam and move to the starting position while maintaining the nozzle valve closed. This same action is also obtainable by the operator elevating the handle so that the weight of the brush head will pivot the same apart from the attachment.

Thus has been provided an improved industrial type floor sweeping brush, wherein is made possible the effective and eflicient spraying of the surface immediately in front of each brush stroke, without exercise of effort beyond that required for operation of an ordinary brush having no spray means. Because the spray device is automatically controlled, there is obviated the usual malfunctioning of similar devices due to human element involved.

Modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A floor sweeping or like device, comprising a mounting head having sweeping means thereon, a handle attachment, means shiftably connecting said attachment to said head to be shiftable relatively of the head by applying a surface-sweeping stroke to the head with respect to a surface upon corresponding sweeping strokes being applied to said handle attachment thereon, a spray nozzle mounted on said device and having an outlet end presented in direction forwardly of said head, container means mounted on said attachment for containing pressurized spray material, conduit means between said container means and said nozzle, valving means connected in said conduit means adapted to be opened and closed for controlling the flow of said pressurized spray material through said nozzle, and means actuated by said relative shifting of said attachment with respect to said head for opening and closing said valving means, opening of said valving means thereby being effective to emit pressurized spray material from said container means forwardly through said nozzle.

2. A floor sweeping or like device, comprising a mounting head having sweeping means thereon, a handle attachment, means shiftably connecting said attachment to said head to be shiftable relatively of the head by applying a surface-sweeping stroke to the head with respect to a surface upon corresponding sweeping strokes being ap plied to said handle attachment thereon, a spray nozzle mounted on said device and having an outlet end presented in direction forwardly of said head, means for supplying spray fluid to said nozzle to direct a spray in the path of movement of said head, valving means for controlling the flow of said spray material through said nozzle, means operable by said relative shifting of said attachment with respect to said head for actuating said valving means, said valving means including a springpressed valve in said nozzle, said attachment including an elongated hollow casing constituting a handle for the aside on its pivot without opening of the valve during reverse relative movement of said head and attachment.

9. A floor sweeper, comprising a mounting head having flexible floor-sweeping elements thereon, a mounting bracket, means for removably attaching said bracket to said head, an attachment pivotally connected to said bracket, said attachment including a nozzle having an outlet opening directed forwardly of said head, an elongated handle extension from said attachment, means for maintaining a source of pressurized spray fluid in said handle extension, said attachment being relatively shiftable angularly with respect to said bracket about said pivot by normal forward movement of the handle extension in moving said head forwardly to brush said sweeping elements over a floor surface, valving means in said nozzle for controlling the flow of said pressurized spray fluid through said nozzle, conduit means from said fluid source to said nozzle through said valving means and means operable by said relative pivotal shifting of said attachment with respect to said bracket and head for actuating said valving means, opening of said valving means thereby being efiective to emit pressurized spray fluid from said source thereof forwardly through said nozzle.

10. A floor sweeper, comprising a mounting head having flexible floor-sweeping elements thereon, an attaching plate secured to said head, a mounting bracket, means for removably attaching said bracket to said plate, an attachment pivotally connected to said bracket, a nozzle 7 on said attachment presenting an outlet end of the nozzle forwardly of the head, an elongated handle extension from said attachment, a source of pressurized spray material incorporated in said handle extension, said attachment being relatively shiftable angularly with respect to said bracket about said pivot by normal forward movement of the handle extension in moving said head forwardly to brush said sweeping element over a surface, valving means in said nozzle for controlling the flow of said pressurized spray material through said nozzle, conduit means from said source to said nozzle through said valving means and means operable by said relative pivotal shifting of said attachment with respect to said bracket and head for actuating said valving means, opening of said valving means thereby being effective to emit pressurized spray material from said source thereof forwardly through said nozzle.

11. A floor sweeper, comprising a mounting head having flexible floor-sweeping elements thereon, a mounting bracket attached to said head, an attachment pivotally connected to said bracket, said attachment including a nozzle having an outlet opening directed forwardly of said head, an elongated handle extension from said attachment, a source of pressurized spray material incorporated in said handle extension, said attachment being relatively shiftable angularly with respect to said bracket about said pivot by normal forward movement of the handle extension in moving said head forwardly to brush said sweeping elements over a surface, valving means for controlling the flow of said spray material through said nozzle, and means operable by said relative shifting of said attachment with respect to said bracket for actuating said valving means, said valving means including a springpressed valve in said nozzle, said handle extension constituting an elongated hollow casing providing therein a container for a spray liquid and pressure fluid above the level of the liquid separate conduit means from said nozzle to the liquid and the pressure fluid in said container, respectively, actuation of said valve thereby being effective to emit the liquid under pressure from said nozzle.

12. A floor sweeper, comprising a mounting head having flexible floor-sweeping elements thereon, a mounting bracket attached to said head, an attachment pivotally connected to said bracket, said attachment including a nozzle having an outlet opening directed forwardly of said head, an elongated handle extension from said attachment, a source of pressurized spray material incorporated in said handle extension, said attachment being relatively shiftable angularly with respect to said bracket about said pivot by normal forward movement of the handle extension in moving said head forwardly to brush said sweeping elements over a floor surface, valving means for controlling the flow of spray material through said nozzle, and control means including a cam and a trigger operable thereby upon said relative shifting of said attachment with respect to said bracket for actuating said valving means,

8 said cam having spaced portions engageable with said trigger in succession upon such relative shifting to operate said valving means in different stages during a said forward movement.

13. A floor sweeper, comprising a mounting head having flexible floor-sweeping elements thereon, a mounting bracket attached to said head, an attachment pivotally connected to said bracket, said attachment including a nozzle having an outlet opening directed forwardly of said head, an elongated handle extension from said attachment, a source of pressurized spray material incorporated in said handle extension, said attachment being relatively shiftable angularly with respect to said bracket about said pivot by normal forward movement of the handle extension in moving said head forwardly to brush said sweeping elements over a floor surface, valving means for controlling the flow of said spray material through said nozzle, and control means including a cam and a springpressed trigger operable thereby upon said relative shifting of said attachment with respect to said bracket for actuating said valving means, said cam having spaced portions engageable with said trigger in succession upon such relative shifting to operate said valving means in different stages during a said forward movement.

14. A floor sweeper, comprising a mounting head having flexible floor-sweeping elements thereon, an attachment pivotally connected to said head, said attachment including a nozzle having an outlet opening directed forwardly of the head, an elongated handle extension from said attachment, a source of pressurized spray material incorporated in said handle extension, said attachment being relatively shiftable angularly with respect to said head about said pivot by normal forward movement of the handle extension in moving said head forwardly to brush said sweeping elements over a floor surface, valving means for controlling the flow of said spray material through said nozzle, and control means including a cam and a springpressed trigger operable thereby upon said relative shifting of said attachment with respect to said head for actuating said valving means, said cam having spaced portions engageable with said trigger in succession upon such relative shifting to operate said valving means in different stages during a said forward movement, said cam being yieldingly pivotally mounted on the head and stop means being provided ,for preventing pivotal movement of the cam during valve opening engagement of said trigger therewith, said cam having a portion engageable by said trigger on return movement thereof to move the cam on its pivot without opening of the valving means during reverse relative movement of said head and attachment.

15. A floor sweeper, comprising a mounting head having flexible floor-sweeping elements thereon, a mounting bracket attached to said head, an attachment pivotally connected to said bracket, said attachment including a nozzle having an outlet opening directed forwardly of said head, an elongated handle extension from said attachment, a source of pressurized spray material incorporated in said handle extension, said attachment being relatively shiftable angularly with respect to said bracket about said pivot by normal forward movement of the handle extension in moving said head forwardly to brush said sweeping elements over a floor surface, valving means for controlling the flow of said spray material through said nozzle, and control means including a cam and a springpressed trigger operable thereby upon said relative shifting of said attachment with respect to said bracket for actuating said valving means, said cam having spaced portions engageable with said trigger in succession upon such relative shifting to operate said valving means in different stages during a said forward movement, said cam being yieldingly pivotally mounted on said bracket and stop means being provided for preventing pivotal movement of the cam during valve opening engagement of said trigger therewith, said cam having a portion engageable by said trigger on return movement thereof to move the cam on its pivot without opening of the valving means during reverse relative movement of said bracket and attachment.

16. A floor sweeper, comprising a mounting head having flexible floor-sweeping elements thereon, a mounting racket attached to said head, an attachment pivotally connected to said bracket, said attachment including a nozzle having an outlet opening directed forwardly of said head, an elongated handle extension from said attachment, a source of pressurized spray material incorpodevice and providing therein a container for a spray liquid and pressure fluid above the level of the liquid, and separate conduit means from said nozzle to the liquid and the pressure fluid in said container, respectively, actuation of said valve thereby being effective to emit the liquid under pressure from said nozzle.

3. A floor sweeping or like device, comprising a mounting head having sweeping means thereon, a handle attachment, means shiftably connecting said attachment to said head to be shiftable relatively of the head by applying a sweeping stroke to the head with respect to a surface upon corresponding sweeping strokes being applied to said handle attachment thereon, spray means mounted with respect to said head to have a spray outlet thereon presented in direction forwardly of the head, said spray means including a mechanism operable by said relative shifting of said attachment with respect to said head for directing fluid spray from said spray outlet in the path of movement of said head, said attachment including an elongated hollow casing constituting handle means for the device and providing therein a container for a spray liquid and pressure fluid above the level of the liquid, separate conduit means from said nozzle to the liquid and the pressure fluid in said container, respectively, actuation of said spray means thereby being effective to emit the liquid under pressure therefrom, the end of said casing opposite the head end thereof having removably mounted therein a centrally apertured plug for supplying said spray liquid therethrough to the container, a centrally apertured fitting removably attached to said plug to close said aperture thereof, and air inlet valve means on said fitting for attachment of a conduit from a source of said pressure fluid for providing said pressure fluid above said liquid level in the container.

4. A fioor sweeping or like device, comprising a mounting head having sweeping means thereon, a handle attachment, means shiftably connecting said attachment to said head to be shiftable relatively of the head by applying a surface-sweeping stroke to the head with respect to a surface upon corresponding sweeping strokes being applied to said handle attachment thereon, spray means mounted with respect to said head to have a spray outlet thereon presented in direction forwardly of the head, said spray means including a mechanism operable by said relative shifting of said attachment with respect to said head for directing spray from said spray outlet in the path of movement of said head, said attachment including an elongated hollow casing constituting a handle for the device and providing therein a container for a spray liquid and pressure fluid above the level of the liquid, separate conduit means from said nozzle to the liquid and the pressure fluid in said container, respectively, actuation of said spray means thereby being effective to emit the liquid under pressure therefrom, the free end of said casing having removably mounted therein a centrally apertured plug for supplying said spray liquid therethrough to the container, a centrally apertured fitting removably attached to said plug to close said aperture thereof, and air inlet valve means on said fitting for attachment of a conduit from a source of said pressure fluid for providing said pressure fluid above said liquid level in the container, said pressure fluid conduit extending to adjacent the inner end of said plug passage and having an end terminating with the open end of the conduit presented inwardly away from the plug.

5. A tloor sweeping or like device, comprising a mounting head having surface-wiping means thereon, a handle attachment, means shiftably connecting said attachment to said head to be shiftable relatively of the head by applying a sweeping stroke to the head with respect to a surface upon corresponding sweeping strokes being app ied to said handle attachment thereon, a spray nozzle mounted on said device and having an outlet, end presented in direction forwardly of said head, means for supplying spray fluid to said nozzle to direct a spray from said spray outlet in the path of movement of said head, valving means for controllin the flow of said spray material through said nozzle, and means operable by said relative shifting of said attachment with respect to said head for actuating said valving means, said nozzle being mounted on said attachment, said valving means including a spring-pressed valve in said nozzle having an extension therefrom, a finger attached to said extension, a cam mounted on said head, said finger being engageable with said cam upon said relative movement of said head and attachment yieldingly to open said valve, said cam having spaced portions so engageable by said finger in succession to operate said valve in different stages during a said sweeping stroke.

6. A floor sweeping oilike device, comprising a mounting head having surface'wiping means thereon, a handle attachment, means shiftably connecting said attachment to said head to be shiftable relatively of the head by applying a sweeping stroke to the head with respect to a surface upon corresponding sweeping strokes being applied to said handle attachment thereon, a spray nozzle mounted on said device and having an outlet end presented in direction forwardly of said head, means for supplying spray fluid to said nozzle to direct a spray in the path of movement of said head, valving means for controlling the fiow of said spray material through said nozzle, and means operable by said relative shifting of said attachment with respect to said head for actuating said valving means, said nozzle being mounted on said attachment, said valving means including a spring-pressed valve in said nozzle having an extension therefrom, a finger yieldingly movably mounted on said extension, a cam mounted on said head, said finger thereby being yieldingly engageahle with said cam upon said relative movement of said head and attachment yieldingly to open said valve, said cam having spaced portions so engageable by said finger in succession, to operate said valve in different stages during a said sweeping stroke.

7. A floor sweeping or like device, comprising a mounting head having surface-wiping means thereon, a handle attachment, means shiftably connecting said attachment to said head to be shiftable relatively of the head by applying a sweeping stroke to the head with respect to a surface upon corresponding sweeping strokes being applied to said handle attachment thereon, a. spray nozzle mounted on said device and having an outlet end presented in direction forwardly of said head, means for supplying spray fluid to said nozzle to direct a spray in the path of movement of said head, valving means for controlling the flow of said spray material through said nozzle, and means operable by said relative shifting of said attachment with respect to said head for actuating said valving means, said nozzle being mounted on said attachment, said valving means including a spring-pressed valve in said nozzle having an extension therefrom, a finger attached to said extension, a cam mounted on said head, said finger being engageable with said cam upon said relative movement of said head and attachment yieldingly to open said valve, said cam being yieldingly pivotally mounted on the head, and stop means being provided for preventing pivotal movement of the cam during valve opening engagement of said finger therewith, said cam having a portion engageable by said finger on return movement thereof to move the cam on its pivot without opening of the valve during reverse relative movement of said head and attachment.

8. A floor sweeping or like device, comprising a mounting head having surface-wiping means thereon, a handle attachment, means shifta'oiy connecting said attachment to said head to be shiftable relatively of the head by applying a sweeping stroke to the head with respect to a surface upon corresponding sweeping strokes being applied to said handle attachment thereon, a spray nozzle mounted on said device and having an outlet end presented in direction forwardly of said head, means for supplying spray fluid to said nozzle to direct a spray in the path of movement of said head, valving means for controlling the flow of said spray material through said nozzle, and means operable by said relative shifting of said attachment with respect to said head for actuating said valving means, said nozzle being mounted on said attachment, said valving means including a spring-pressed valve in said nozzle having an extension therefrom, a finger attached to said extension, a cam mounted on said head, said finger being engageable with said cam upon said relative movement of said head and attachment yieldingly to open said valve, said cam having spaced portions progressively engageable by said finger to open and close said spring-pressed valve in different stages during said sweeping stroke, said cam being yieldingly pivotally mounted on the head, and stop means being provided for preventing pivotai movement of the cam during valve opening engagement of said finger therewith, said cam having a portion engageable by said finger on return movement thereof to move the cam said trigger in succession to operate said valving means in different stages during a said forward movement, said cam being yieldingly pivotally mounted on the head and stop means being provided for preventing pivotal movement of the cam during valve opening engagement of said trigger therewith, said cam having a portion engageable by said trigger on return movement thereof to move said valving means, said cam having 10 the cam on its pivot without opening of the valving means during reverse relative movement of said bracket and attachment, said spaced cam portions being proportioned to operate said trigger to apply said spray initially with a substantial blast and to reduce the amount of spray toward the end of said forward movement of the head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 412,092 Jacoby Oct. 1, 1889 566,519 Johnson Aug. 25, 1896 692,739 Tranter Feb. 4, 1902 1,055,771 Matchette et al. Mar. 11, 1913 1,143,090 Stiefel June 15, 1915 1,205,714 Creech Nov. 21, 1916 1,445,976 Sealund Feb. 20, 1923 1,619,120 Heaton Mar. 1, 1927 

